Goodbye To Plymouth, Mercury?

Are Plymouth and Mercury about to go the way of DeSoto and Edsel? Some auto industry analysts think so.

There's growing speculation that DaimlerChrysler will send the Plymouth nameplate into the history books, and that Ford will do the same to its Mercury line.

Both companies insist no decision's been made yet, and a Mercury spokesman even says reports of its demise are "greatly exaggerated."

For years, Plymouths have often been copycat versions of Dodges, while Mercury's were largely twins of Fords.

Auto industry watchers say it's getting too expensive to market the same car under two names, especially with a lack of new, unique models.

DaimlerChrysler has already let its Eagle name fade away.